A popular motivational quote tells us that “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Most often, this quote is applied in the world of sports; but, quite regularly, it is in regards to one team being better than another. It manifests itself in competition, whether on the gridiron, on a court, or in some other athletic venue.
But what people habitually ignore or underestimate is the preparation. Fans cheer for the final score, but they don’t think about the pregame speech. They don’t think about the countless hours of practice. They don’t think about the workouts, the time spent studying film, and the recovery from injuries and game nights.
No one fully understands the road to glory until they have taken the trip for themselves. But in Tifton, Georgia, Barry Bennett is laying the perfect road map for those that come after him.
“It’s all about your desire to play,” Barry says. “You have to figure out how bad you want to succeed. You have to decide how much of your time you will dedicate to what you love. Nobody else can do that for you.”
Barry is the starting running back for the Tift County Blue Devils. But, as with anything else in life, his appointment didn’t come easy. His first two years of high school were spent on the junior varsity squad, before finally climbing the ladder to the higher ranks in his third season.
“If I had to sum Barry Bennett up in one word, it would easily be ‘character’,” says Ashley Anders, Tift County’s head football coach. “He’s self-motivated. I met Barry when he was a freshman; I was the defensive coordinator at the time. His work ethic hasn’t changed a bit. He’s always first, no matter what we’re doing.”
Barry is what many perceive to be the ultimate student-athlete. He always dedicates himself to a given task, whether it is running sprints or knocking out schoolwork. When it’s time to work out, he’s the first one in the weight room. After practices, he’s the player that you’re guaranteed to see helping the coaching staff organize equipment and ensure that the locker room is clean. It’s a certain level of pride that many possess, but only a select few display on the surface.
“I love my coaches,” Barry says. “I love my teammates. This community; the people here look up to us, and I take pride in that. They help us out all the time. This community created who I am.”
Barry’s work ethic extends well beyond the field and the classroom; he also made the time to work a job this past summer. And, as expected, his drive was on full display. So much, in fact, to the point where his supervisor personally called Coach Anders, just to let him know how determined and responsible Barry was.
“He’s just an unbelievable kid,” Coach Anders says of Barry. “He’s a terrific player and an even better person. I have no doubt that he’s going to be successful, no matter where he goes or what he pursues.”
Barry is in the midst of his final year as a Blue Devil, but when he graduates, his name will resonate in the halls and weight rooms of Tift County High School for years to come. He is undecided as to where he will attend college (during his interview, he mentioned that he was considering Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State University), but he knows that he will major in electrical engineering. Although his career path seems to be set, there is at least one person that would love to see him remain close to the game of football.
“I would love for him to work for me one day,” Coach Anders says. “I’d hire him right now if I could.”
So, as we’ve come to recognize, talent alone is meaningless when confronted with an opposing force of strong work ethic. In the case of Tift County’s Barry Bennett, it’s always better to have both.
South Georgia / October 2015
Barry Bennett
Tift County High School
Tifton, Ga.
Tift County Running Back Personifies Strong Work Ethic
By James Washington
Photography by Micki K Photography
